Oman, Part 2

This set of photos is from the Muttrah Souk, one of if not the largest markets in Muscat.  One of the things I love about souks is the mingling of tourist storefronts with shops where locals actually purchase  staples, and Muttrah did not disappoint.  Most of these photos are of the tourist-oriented sections, since that is where it was most appropriate to request permission for and take photographs -- definitely a consideration in the Middle East -- but other portions of the souk included gorgeous alleyways filled with fabric, butchershops, barbershops, etc.

These are actually jambiyas, a type of sword typically found in Yemen, although the same shop also sold khanjars, the Omani version, which is similar except the curve of the blade is closer to a 90 degree angle, rather than curving back up.